Rila National Park

If you love alpine type mountains – high rocky peaks, deep abysses with vertical walls, crystal clear alpine lakes and fast running rivers, the Rila Mountains is the place, which you should definitely visit!. Most of the deepest and longest rivers in the Balkans originated here. The geographical name ‘Rila’ comes from the Thracian ‘Roula’, which means plenty of water.

This name is not accidental.

There are more than 200 lakes and numerous mneral springs in the mountains. On 24.02.1992 much of the mountain was declared a National Park “Rila” so that to preserve the unique shapes, natural formations and unique ecosystems with rare plant and animal species The Park is recognized as a World Natural Heritage and one of the most valuable and largest protected areas in Europe. The beauty of the Mountain is due to prolonged glacial activity that created the strange forms of combs,tapered shapes of the peaks, vast glacial valleys, most decorated with crystal water lakes. Rila Mountains is a favorite place for tourists, nature lovers and natural scientists. In addition to picturesque villages nestledin the majestic forests of the Rila Mountains, you can find historicalmonuments of world significance for culture and science.